I have a friend that has 15+ of these older Bingo Machines (the kind that look like pinball machines). Most of them are working and they look fairly nice for their age. They all have the back glass and play fields in nice shape, but some of them are missing the play field glass. He tried to sell a few but hasnt had much luck since most people dont even know what these are. He was considering scrapping them and selling for parts, but I told him to hold off and let me see if there are other options.Does anyone know if there is any market for these machines anymore or what a decent starting price would be for these? I'd hate to see them hacked up for parts. I'm sure someone would make some nice art out of these old back glass and play fields, but that also means taking apart the working machines. Any thoughts?

They're a pretty tough sell. Most people won't take one in since they take up space they'd rather fill with a pinball machine. There is a niche group that collects them, but that group seems to be getting smaller every year.

Oh man, seriously? That sucks. I was hoping I could help him find buyer (or at least something to do other than rip them apart). Well, there is still a market for Glass and play fields, right? I've always been more of an Video guy, so I dont know much about the Pin world. I could post some of the glass on Buy Sell Trade section if anyone still buys that. If I still had a home arcade, I'd put a bingo in there, but sadly I dont anymore.

You might find buyers on rec.games.pinball. Don't give up yet. You could always put one or two on eBay and see if the selling price is worth your time. This forum is a pretty bad place to try to move them though.

Thanks everyone for your replies! I've posted to the pinball newgroup and will also followup with that Craigalist posting in NY. Hopefully I'll find a few of these machines a good home before they get the axe...Thanks again!

Nah, standard pinball will stick around much longer. There are a lot of younger pinball fanatics. I'm 30, and I'm already seeing guys younger than me putting together great collections. I think pinball will manage to keep getting passed down to a younger generation. The Bingo games just aren't appealing as you have no real control over the game. There was never a younger generation of fans. As soon as flipper games came out, it was lights out for Bingo games and hardly anybody looked back.

For all of our sakes, I hope you are right. I like to think that pinball will be around forever but unless location pinball makes a comeback or the the home market gets cheaper it is doomed to die for only but the dedicated fans like you and me.

Another knife in the bingo game's coffin is the fact that they became illegal in most municipalities because they are really gambling devices at heart. The REAL reason they were popular to begin with. Notice how old EM flipper games all say 'For Amusement Only' on them.

There are a couple of local clubs in my town that still have a DIXIELAND in the back room on the hush hush and on the wink wink that pay a quarter a credit when you win. It takes 11 quarters to light all the cards and features for one 5 ball game.

hi do you still have these machines as i would love to own one, used to play these in the cafes of birmingham all those years ago, and won some money too. please let me know as i would love a full working version, dont know a thing about the workings of them just like to play them

We recently showed a high limit advantage playable casino pinball, and he explained that he still operates these sorts of bingo-pinball games and imports them from other markets but that he wanted to have some designed specifically for these markets.

I have no idea about any of these sorts of games myself, but I can assure you that there is activity going on right now today with them and there may be demand for the machines you have if you look in the right places.

Of course this was a very much resurrected thread, so not expecting those folks to still be talking about this.

These are two very different types of games. I used to love playing Fascination as a kid, in a nearby amusement park.The Bingo pinball machines were basically gambling machines, as far as I recall. Completely self contained unmanned units.

Fascination however, is more like a kinetic bingo hall. There is a person who has a microphone, and signals the start of the game... and unlocks the ball(s) from the machines all at once. People quickly race, to try to get 5 in a row, as quickly as possible. When the game ends, the person whom won, gets a prize ticket. The rest of the group, has to pay up, for the next game(s). Much like skeeball or other games of skill... the prize tickets were used to purchase things at the prize booth.

There were difference colored rows on the game.. and certain colors gained you a more significant prize.. if I recall correctly. It may also have signified the option for the announcer to see whom could get a certain colored row first... rather than just any 5 row win.

There were some smaller unmanned self contained Fascination like ticket machines... with only 3 in a row options, and no unlimited ball action, of course. These really didnt have the same fun factor.

Some of them have value. But, most of them don't. I bought 11 of them for $900 long ago. I did manage to sell a Shoot-A-Line for $600 which is the most I ever got for one. If they are working $400 is about the most you can get for them. It is just simple supply and demand. They made a lot of them so there is still plenty of supply out there. But, not many people want them so there is not much demand.